Business
In this episode of E-Coffee with Experts, our host Ranmay chats with Chris Turnbull, Director of Catalyst Creative Marketing, about his journey from freelancer to agency owner and what it takes to scale a modern SEO agency in today’s AI-powered world.
Chris shares how COVID unexpectedly gave him the space to build Catalyst from scratch, and how he turned that pause into real momentum. He breaks down why local businesses still struggle with SEO, including one overlooked factor that kills trust (hint: it’s your Google reviews).
You’ll also hear why Chris believes social media isn’t the fastest way to grow, and how simplifying communication, across multiple channels and campaigns, is the key to higher ROI. He gets real about the impact of AI, which tools he actually uses, and why human strategy still wins when it comes to storytelling and conversion.
If you're a founder, marketer, or leader looking to scale smarter, this one’s for you.
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In this episode, we discuss:
00:00 - 01:34: How Chris started in SEO as a teen
01:34 - 02:30: Why he launched his agency during COVID
02:30 - 03:18: The shift from freelancing to building a team
03:18 - 04:14: Why he named it "Catalyst"
04:14 - 05:02: A common SEO mistake local businesses make
05:02 - 06:10: Why reviews are more powerful than you think
06:10 - 07:00: Are local businesses wasting time on social media?
07:00 - 08:15: How they simplify marketing for clients
08:15 - 09:10: Making results clear without the jargon
09:10 - 09:58: Why brand consistency matters in marketing
09:58 - 11:03: Chris’s honest thoughts on AI in SEO
11:03 - 12:05: AI tools he uses in his daily work
12:05 - 13:06: What still works best in SEO today
13:06 - 14:14: Why humans still beat AI in content
14:14 - 15:42: SEO vs PPC, what works better?
15:42 - 16:24: Why tracking ROI is a must
16:24 - 17:15: What he would change about his journey
17:15 - 18:06: Fun rapid fire: money, pub, crush
18:06 - 19:10: Where to find Chris online
19:10 - 20:04: Final thoughts
Connect with Chris Turnbull
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-turnbull-catalyst/
https://catalystcreativemarketing.co.uk/
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